Gaseous electric discharge device



Aug. 28, 1934.

GASEOUS ELECTRIC DISCHARGE DEVICE Filed May 9. 1932 INVENTOB mm BY ATTORNE'Y M. REGER 1,971,942"

omen sT Tss PATEN Patented Aug. 28, 1934 1,971,942 GASEOUS ELECTRIC DISCHARGE DEVICE Martin Reger, Berlin, Germany, minor to Genr orrlca eral Electric Company, a corporation of New Application May 9, 1832, Serial No. 610,203 In Germany May 15, 1931 3 Claims. (or. 176-124) The present invention relates to gaseous elec- I trio discharge devices generally and more particularly the invention relates to methods and means for starting such devices into operation.

Gaseous electric discharge devices having thermionic electrodes will operate on the usual 110 or 220 commercial voltages but will not start into operation on such voltages. It is now known in the art that such device may be started into operation by an apparatus adapted to produce a high frequency current or a high voltage surge suitably connected to the device. It is customary in the art to connect such apparatus into an auxiliary circuit, automatic means being provided to cut out of circuit said apparatus immediately on the establishment of the discharge in said device.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple method and a means for starting into operation gaseous electric discharge devices on the usual 110 or 220 volt current sources of commerce. Another object of'the invention is to provide a positive acting means for this purpose. Still further objects and advantages attaching to the invention and to its use and operation will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from the following particular description and from the appended claims.

The invention attains its objects by providing along the discharge path in the device one or more bodies capable of electron emission when heated. Said bodies are connected to a heating circuit which is, when desired, separate from that of the circuit of the electric discharge device but which is preferably included in said latter circuit.

It has recently been proposed to provide an electric discharge device having electrodes capable of electron emission when heated with aux-' iliary electrodes having the same characteristics as the main discharge supporting electrodes. Said auxiliary electrodes are, however, in close proximity to the main discharge supporting electrodes and are connected into the circuit of the device in such manner that an electric discharge takes place between said auxiliary electrodes and said main discharge supporting electrodes wherebyall of said electrodes are raised to an electron emitting temperature to ionize the path of the main discharge in the device which facilitates the starting of the main discharge between the main discharge supporting electrodes in the device. This invention achieves the same result in a much simpler manner by locating along the length of the main discharge path bodies capable of electron emission when heated to ionize that part of the discharge path which facilitates the starting of the main discharge in said device.

The electron emitting body is, when desired, a, metal wire, such as a tungsten wire-coated or impregnated with an electron emitting material, such as the oxides or nitrides of the alkalies, earth alkalies, or rare earths, or, when desired, said body comprises a rod or block of said electron emitting material surrounded by a metal heater wire or said body comprises a metal shell, such as a nickel shell, coated with an electron emitting material and having a heater wire in the interior thereof, or said body is of any type capable of electron emission when heated. As

pointed out heretofore the electron emitting body V circuit therefor being shown schematically.

Referring to the drawing the new and novelgaseous electric discharge device comprises a container 1 having electrodes 2 and 3 sealed therein, one at each end thereof, Said electrodes 2 and 3 consist of a coiled metal wire, such as a tungsten wire coated with an electron emitting material, such as barium oxide and are capable of electron emission when heated. Said container 1 is filled with a gas, a gas mixture, a vapor, or a gas-vapor mixture and is, for example, neon, or a mixture of argon and mercury vapor capable of electrical conduction when ionized. Two wires 4 and 5 having the same structure as electrodes 2 and 3 and being, therefore, capable of electron emission when heated are located along the length of the discharge path between said main electrodes 2 and 3 as illustrated in the drawing. When it is desired to use only one of the wires 4 or 5 it is desirable that said wire be located at. or near the middle of the length of said discharge path.

Said electrodes 2 and 3 are connected by leads 6 and 7 respectively to the terminals 8 and 9 of a commercial 110 or 220" volt current source, and a ballast resistance 10 is connected. into said lead 6. Said electrodes 2 and 3 and said wires 4 and 5 are connected by leads 16, 17 and leads 110 leads 13 to curren'tleads 6 and '7 between said resistance 10 and said electrode 2.

when a potential of 110 or 220 volts is applied to said terminals 8 and 9 electrodes 2 and 3 and wires 4 and 5 are heated to an electron emitting temperature and the gas in the discharge path between said main electrodes 2 and 3 is quickly and heavily ionized and the positive column electric discharge is started into operation quickly and positively. After the discharge is established a greater current flows through said resistance 10 which cuts down the voltage on the primary coil 12 of said transformer 11 to such extent that the heating current flowing through said transformer 11 to said electrodes 2 and 3 and to said wires 4 and 5 is not suflicient to maintain said electrodes 2.and 3 and said wires 4 and 5 at an electron emitting temperature. However, the discharge, or the arc current on said electrodes 2 and 3 is suflicientto maintain said electrodes at an electron emitting temperature during the operation of the device. When desired automatic means such as a time switch, a thermostatic switch, or a magnetically operated switch, is used to disconnect said electrodes 2 and 3 and said wires 4 and 5 from said transformer 11 after the device has been started into operation.

It will of course be understood that if, during the operation of the electric discharge device, the voltage on the current supply source should decrease for any reason, causing the dropping out or the positive column discharge, when the voltage of said source returns to normal, suflicient current will then flow through resistance 10 and transformer 11 to heat the wires 4 and 5 and the electrodes 2 and 3 to an electron emitting temperature and the re-starting o! the discharge thus is assured. After the device has been started the above described phenomena again takes place.

While I have shown and described and have pointed out in the annexed claims certain novel features of the invention, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its use and operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from I the broad spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The method of starting an electric discharge device comprising a container, electrodes sealed therein and an element therein located along the discharge path between said electrodes and capable of electron emission when heated, a gaseous atmosphere therein, which consists in heating said element to ionize the discharge path between said electrodes and in reducing the current flow through the heater for said element during the operation of the device below that required to heat said element to an electron emitting temperature.

2. An electric discharge device comprising a container, electrodes sealed therein, a gaseous atmosphere therein, and an element located along the discharge path between said electrodes adapted to emit electrons when heated, means to heat said element and means to reduce the current flow through said heating means during the operation of the device below that required to heat said element to an electron emitting temperature.

3. An electric discharge device comprising an elongated, tubular container, electrodes sealed therein at each end thereof, a gaseous atmosphere therein and an element located along the discharge path between said electrodes adapted to emit electrons when heated, said element being shorter in length than said discharge path, means to heat said element and means to reduce the current flow through said heating means during the operation of the device below that required to heat said element to an electron ting temperature.

MARTIN REGER.

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